
Exposure to specific odors can selectively accelerate the birthrates of olfactory sensory neuron subtypes that are responsive to those odors.


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In mammals, olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are born throughout life, presumably solely to replace neurons lost via turnover or injury. This assumption follows from the hypothesis that olfactory neurogenesis is strictly stochastic with respect to neuron subtype, as defined by the single odorant receptor allele that each neural precursor stochastically chooses out of hundreds of possibilities. This hypothesis is challenged by recent findings that the birthrates of a fraction of subtypes are selectively diminished by olfactory deprivation. These findings raise questions about how, and why, olfactory stimuli are required to promote the neurogenesis of some OSN subtypes, including whether the stimuli are generic (e.g., broadly activating odors or mechanical stimuli) or specific (e.g., discrete odorants). Based on RNA-seq and scRNA-seq analyses, we hypothesized that the neurogenic stimuli are specific odorants that selectively activate the same OSN subtypes whose birthrates are accelerated. In support of this, we have found, using subtype-specific OSN birthdating, that exposure to male and musk odors can accelerate the birthrates of responsive OSNs. Collectively, our findings reveal that certain odor experiences can selectively “amplify” specific OSN subtypes, and that persistent OSN neurogenesis may serve, in part, an adaptive function.

### Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

In mice, discrete odors can selectively promote the neurogenesis of sensory neuron subtypes that they stimulate

discrete-odors-can-selectively-promote-the-neurogenesis-of-responsive-olfactory-sensory-neuron-subtypes


Discrete odors can selectively promote the neurogenesis of responsive olfactory sensory neuron subtypes
